Breadcrumb

EducationThe latest research and innovations in protective gear for emergency response and military professionals.

At Gore, we continue to develop resources to help you understand the world of protective gear, whether it’s the latest research, new technologies, or revisions to NFPA and other standards.

You Work in All Kinds of Conditions...So Should Your Gear!

Heat Stress

The vast majority of fire calls do not involve extreme heat. Nevertheless heat is still a problem…the heat of the sun...the heat from an asphalt highway…the heat on a tar rooftop…the heat in the middle of summer. Yet, the NFPA 1971 Standard doesn’t currently address performance in different environments – particularly the warmer and low-level radiant environments which pose significant heat stress risk. So until now, gear selection has been done without this new additional information.

Stay on Your Feet With Leather Boots!

For years, the industry has thought that leather boots provided better footing. A recent study showed that firefighters were more likely to have a hazardous slip or fall when wearing rubber boots than when wearing leather boots. And, based on NFPA and National Safety Council reports, preventing these injuries more than justifies the cost of buying leather boots.

Firefighters can incur burns when exposed to thermal energy under a wide range of fireground conditions. Some of these burns occur during sub-flashover conditions without significant visual degradation to the turnout composite.

How Your Gear Protects You

This video provides an introduction to the components inside structural firefighting gear — the outer shell, moisture barrier, and thermal liner — and the functions of each.

View the short video to the left to learn how these components work together to protect you at the fire scene.

Advancements in Flame-Retardant Technology

For applications such as military outerwear or industrial workwear, flexibility in choosing a fabric allows you to take advantage of the fabric’s unique advantages such as high visibility, abrasion resistance, or waterproof protection. However, in many of these environments, protection against flames and potential burns is essential. We have developed an innovative, self-extinguishing technology that adds heat and flame protective properties to traditional non-flame-retardant textiles.